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Baked sardines, kale, pine nuts & raisins

My rediscovered love for fresh sardines prompted me to whip up another batch for a weekend lunch. Previously I grilled them on my barbecue with a few classic ingredients used in Croatia, whereas this time I’ve stuffed them with a simple mixture of blanched baby kale, pine nuts, raisins and lemon rind. Once again the flavours are fresh, richened slightly by roasting the sardines beneath a light layer of panko bread crumbs.

These little babies would go beautifully on your next mezze board or next to a salad for a delicious and light lunch. I urge you to try it!

baked sardines, kale, pine nuts & raisins

serves 2

250 g (8-10) fresh sardines

250 ml hot water

1 cup kale

1 tbsp raisins

1 tbsp pine nuts

zest from ½ lemon, finely grated

¼ tsp sea salt

½ tsp black pepper, freshly milled

1 clove garlic, finely grated

2 tbsp panko bread crumbs

1 tbsp olive oil

1 lemon

Either get your fish monger to clean the sardines, or do it yourself by cutting a slit down the gut to remove the innards. Do it under running water, scraping away any scales that you can feel as well. Dry with paper towels and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 230°C.

Place the kale and raisins in the hot water, squash down to quickly blanch then drain and rinse immediately under cold running water. Squeeze any water from the kale and raisins then place onto a chopping board. Add the pine nuts to the kale and raisins and chop roughly. Add the lemon zest, sea salt, pepper and garlic and keep chopping until everything is incorporated.

Take the kale mixture and stuff each cavity of the sardines. Lay them on a greaseproof paper-lined baking tray and lightly season with sea salt and milled black pepper. Sprinkle over the panko and lightly drizzle with the olive oil. Bake in the oven for approximately 10 minutes, or until cooked through.

While the sardines are baking, cut cheeks from the lemon and drizzle over a little oil on the cut side. Heat a non-stick pan over high heat, sear the cut side of the lemon until caramelised.

Serve the sardines as soon as they come out of the oven, drizzled with some caramelised lemon juice.